Fitness is Your Perfect Escape
In a topsy-turvy world, sweat is your salvation
It seems like life gets crazier everyday.
A global pandemic has thrown our world into chaos. Our political system has never been more divided. Relations between different societal groups are fragile and unstable. We’re not sure who to trust in the media.
What’s a guy like me supposed to do? What are any of us supposed to do?
I used to think of fitness rather one-dimensionally. I need to get healthier. Stronger. Faster. While these are worthwhile goals, I’ve come to realize they barely scratch the surface of fitness’ potential impact on my life.
In reality’s version of the Upside-Down, fitness not only holds the key to our physical well-being, but is paramount in maintaining our mental health.
In a topsy-turvy world, sweat is your salvation. Here’s why.
Power over the body…and mind
The mind holds immeasurable power over the body. Even with something seemingly 100% physical like exercise, the mind is acutely in control of the outcome, greatly influencing the quality of a workout.
Consider your most recent fitness session. Were you excited to get started or hampered by disinterest? Did you exercise with purpose or simply go through the motions? Did you leave feeling satisfied or indifferent? How your mind goes, your workout goes.
But there’s more to it than that.
Just as the mind influences fitness, fitness influences the mind. It’s a two-way street. You’re most likely familiar with dopamine and serotonin, natural “feel-good” drugs released by the brain during exercise and how those contribute to feelings of positivity and joyousness.
Additionally, through a series of complex processes, exercise kicks off a chain reaction that dramatically improves brain function. So not only do you feel better, your cognitive abilities improve over time.
What does all this mean?
It means put down the remote and go for a run. Step away from your desk and lift some weights. Go for a walk around your neighborhood. Your mind as well as your body will become tougher, more resilient, more durable, more capable of dealing with whatever insanity life throws at you.
Fitness is control
It’s amazing how much of our lives are out of our control. Consider the economic climate in 2020. Say you’re a diligent employee at a midsize company. You’re punctual, well-adjusted and well-liked by your team. Then, one Friday afternoon, your boss calls you into his/her office and delivers some bad news…
“But why?” you may ask. “I’ve been at this company ten years. My work performance speaks for itself. Why am I being let go?”
“It’s nothing personal,” your boss might say. “Due to a substantial loss in sales, we’ve had to make some tough decisions. The company is being restructured to more closely align with current revenues.”
While this may or may not reflect your personal situation or the situation of someone you know, the point is this: much of our lives, even large parts like employment, are sometimes completely out of our control.
Fitness allows you to take it back.
Fitness cannot be bought, borrowed or bartered with. It doesn’t matter if you have $10 in the bank or $10 million. You and only you are directly responsible for your success or failure.
Thus, achieving your fitness goals becomes all the more meaningful. You reached your weight loss goal because you had the drive and determination to do so. You finally ran a 5k without stopping. You eventually made it through a 90 minute hot yoga class. You put up 225 on the bench press.
Just you.
Fitness emphasizes the things that matter
There’s a lot of noise out there. People shout and scream, attempting to invalidate anyone who doesn’t share a similar worldview – authority figures, fringe extremists and everyone in between. In such a world, it can be difficult to discern what matters and what does not.
What matters is our health. Every one of us knows the value of healthy living. By embracing a healthy life, we’re embracing commitment, longevity and vitality. These are values that stand the test of time, enabling us to conquer hardship and adversity in the long haul.
What matters is our personal development. Fitness makes us, well, fit. When we’re more fit, we’re more confident. When we’re more confident, we’re more successful. And when we’re more successful, we’re happier. Perhaps reality is not quite this cut and dry, but the point remains. The more solid our partnership with fitness, the better chance we have of reaching our full potential.
What matters are our relationships. Relationships are perhaps the most important parts of life. You rarely hear anyone on their death bed wish they spent more time mowing the lawn or shopping for groceries.
The relationships in which fitness plays a major role are arguably the most important ones I have. These are relationships built on a foundation of trust, support and positivity. These are relationships that are steadfast, even in the wake of a turbulent world. These are relationships that push me to be a better version of myself.
“Fitness is like a relationship. You can’t cheat and expect it to work.”
In our topsy-turvy world, fitness is the way.
Scott Mayer is a runner, thinker, curious observer and certified personal trainer. Visit the In Fitness And In Health website for training plans, consulting options and additional content.
